When heading out to eat, we often access menus, reviews and recommendations before choosing a spot. For diners at schools, healthcare facilities or other foodservice providers, there is a level of trust that food is being prepared and handled properly. Hamilton County Public Health helps take the guess-work out of dining decisions through its online inspection reports and Clean Kitchen Award program.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, there were nearly 375,000 cases of foodborne illness in the U.S., 2,000 of which occurred in Ohio” says Greg Kesterman, Assistant Hamilton County Health Commissioner. “Most of what we see in terms of foodborne illness is preventable, which is why we put emphasis on our education and inspection program with the food service facilities we serve,” he adds.

“The Hamilton County Public Health Clean Kitchen Award represents the gold standard in maintaining safe food service operations,” Kesterman adds. “The award is not easy to receive. When you see one on display, it points to an operator that takes the responsibility very seriously. If you don’t see an award, ask the operator why.”

[quote_left]When choosing a place to eat, make sanitation a priority.[/quote_left]When choosing a place to eat, make sanitation a priority. You can view inspection data for all food service facilities and listings for all Clean Kitchen Award winners on the Hamilton County Public Health website at www.HCPH.org. The Clean Kitchen Award reflects inspection data from the previous two years and is not necessarily indicative of current conditions.

The requirements for receiving a Clean Kitchen Award are stringent. To be considered, facilities must:

Have three or fewer violations in the previous two years prior to applying;

Have no “critical” or repeat violations in the previous two years;

Maintain at least two staff members with Level I Food Handler certification or at least one staff member with a current ServSafe certificate;

Submit applications along with corresponding documentation;

Have a minimum of two years of inspection data on file with Hamilton County Public Health.

Following is the list of winning operators for the first quarter of 2017: